Fannin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a woman whose body was found lying beside State Highway 11 outside of Bailey Sunday. Area residents' commutes to church and to run errands were detoured as one man reported officers had the roadway closed for at least three hours for the investigation.

A press release issued by FCSO states that a motorist discovered the body of a 57-year-old female who lived in Bailey as they passed through the area around 7 a.m. Her remains were reportedly discovered a short distance west of the intersection of Highway 11 and State Highway 78. The woman's car was located not too far from her residence a few minutes after the body was discovered. At the time of the investigation, it appeared the woman had left her car on the county road and walked across pastures towards Highway 11 where her body was found.

Investigators interviewed the woman's husband who advised his wife had left their home in her car around 10:30 p.m. the day before. He stated that he had gone to bed shortly after.

FCSO is not stating if they know what the cause of death is, nor are they ruling the death a homicide at this time. Justice of the Peace Alan Hale ordered the body to be sent to the Medical Examiner's office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

FCSO reports that they investigate all unattended deaths as suspicious in nature pending the findings of the Medical Examiner.

This death is the fourth death the Sheriff's Office has investigated in the past month. The last was the triple homicide of Harold and Sue Harpst and Sue Harpst's daughter Regina Taunton.